Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy by Mark Diesendorf
Review: Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy By Mark Diesendorf Reviewed by Elery Hamilton-Smith Charles Sturt University, Australia Diesendorf, Mark. Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy . Sydney, NSW: University of New South Wales Press, 2007. 413 pp. ISBN 978-086-8409-733. AU$45.95, paper. This is indeed a timely book. The proliferation of books on world environmental trends, policies and issues means that there are literally thousands of pages clamoring for the attention of those interested. Many of these are simply advocating specific conceptualizations and solutions to one or more of the many global problems. Too many of them either neglect, or are deficient on, critical assessment of the necessary evidence. Diesendorf writes with great clarity, explaining complex issues and ideas without over-simplifying or dumbing down. Essentially, after a basic conceptual review, he critically evaluates eight major strategic directions, either already practiced or commonly proposed and advocated in global policy arenas. Each of these strategies is assessed in terms of the potential resources, current status and action, environmental, health and social impacts, economic and future development potential. Essentially, he concludes that, at least in Australia and probably globally, a combination of efficient energy use, solar hot water, gas, bio-energy, wind power, improved public transport and fuel-efficient vehicles could halve greenhouse emissions within a few decades. But the political will is lacking, and much government policy action serves only to further the production of greenhouse emissions. The large and wealthy fossil fuel industries, including their infrastructural demands such as power stations, transport, urban structure and building standards, are major determinants of governmental expenditure.
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